My Foray into My Midwestern Roots

Scenes of Christmas

Our Christmas tree all lit up and decorated. Santa had already arrived but everyone was still sleeping – except for my husband and me. We had gotten up early to make breakfast (me) and take our son to work (my husband) by 6 a.m. The poinsettia just to the left of the lower part of the tree was given to us (along with a second one) by our daughter and son-in-law.

Our grandson didn’t wake up until almost 7 a.m.! Then we woke the rest of the household so we could eat the pumpkin bread I baked before unwrapping our gifts.

Our grandson was quite excited to receive two video games from his Mom!

My mother-in-law gifted myself and my two daughters with hand-embroidered tea-towels with the days of the week on them. My youngest daughter was excited to receive one of her first “grown-up” type of household presents. My other daughter who was with us never expected to receive any other “hand-made” items from her grandmother (who had been ill for awhile – doing much better now!) and was overwhelmed by the gift.

After our son got home from work, we opened a second set of gifts that my daughter and son-in-law had brought with them as well as my son’s gifts to him and his to us.

I tried desperately to stay on schedule with the meal. Unfortunately, I had never cooked all the dishes on the menu at one time so I was a little off my game. Fortunately, most of the disruptions occured due to phone calls from relatives and grandsons eager to show Nana their toys or to give kisses.

Dinner was so good that we ate way too much! Son-in-law sacked out on one sofa while the kids watched movies or played video games. I finally talked everyone into eating at least one piece of pie a few hours after dinner.

By 9 p.m. I was so wiped out from being on my feet most of the day and all the cooking and excitement that I was falling asleep trying to read a new book (Stephen King) my husband got for me. I had to turn in and slept amazingly well!

Our family had a wonderful – little warm – Christmas. Nothing compared to footnoteMaven’s in Washington State – who endured record snowfalls, power outages, and traveling white-knuckled to her daughter’s house for Christmas and then spending part of Christmas evening at their favorite Chinese restaurant that was open! For her Christmas story please go here.